Frame for trunks



(No Model.)

B M TURNER FRAME FOR TRUNKS, VALISES, &c.

Patented Aug. 17, 1897.

ATTORNEY.

1m: scam: mans co. WOTCLUTNQ. vusulua' cm, o. c.

' V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EPl-IRAIM M. TURNER, OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

FRAME FOR T-RUNKS, VALISES, 84.0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,199, dated August17, 1897.

Application filed September 19, 1696; Serial No. 606,356. (No model.)

valises, boxes, vehicle-bodies, and like arti-- cles; and the object isto construct frames which Will be strong and durable, which will requireno bolts or nails or tacks, and which. can be cast or molded or formedin single pieces of metal.

. The invention consists in the novel construction and'cojmbinationhereinafter fully described, and more particularly pointed out in theclaimsfi Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partof this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a frame.

Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view showing a brad and a lug or 'rib'cast integral with a side piece. Fig. 3-is a longitudinalverticalsection through line X X of Fig. 1, showing a part of the frameand sections of the end and bottom and side pieces of a trunk or otherarticle held in place by the frame. Fig. 4c is a horizontal sectionalView in detail, showing construction of the corners and the adjusting ofthe end and bottom and side pieces.

Similar characters of reference are used to indicate the same partsthroughout the several views.

The entireframe is preferablycon'structed' in one piece. The bottompieces a and a and the end pieces I) and b are substantially angular incross-section, being angular on the inside and "curved on the outside,as shown in Figs; 1 and 2. trunk or other article rest on the horizontalflanges of the sidepieces. of the trunk rest on the horizontal flangesof all the bottom pieces of the frame, and the end pieces of the trunkrest on the horizontal flanges-0f the endpieces of the frame and againstthe vertical flanges of the end pieces. The bottom of the trunk or otherarticle aids in holding the side and end pieces of the trunk in place,since those parts extend down between the metal vertical flanges and thebottom piece of the trunk.

The side pieces of the The bottom pieces Inorder to add strength to thesides and bottom, bands 0 andc are cast integral with the side pieces aand a. These bands have ribs 01 and d on the outside, as illustrated inFig. 1 and at the bottom of Fig. 3. The ends are strengthened byuprights e and (2, cast with the end pieces of the frame, or,ifdesirable, these end uprights may extend under the bottom and thus addstrength to the frame. The uprights at the corners are constructed asillustrated in Fig. 4. The flanges f hold the side and end pieces oftrunks and other articles in place; but for some articles the flanges fn'iay be dispensed with.

' In order to give strength and to 'prevent the corner-uprights fromflaring out at the top, ribs or flanges g are cast integral .with

and on the inside of the flanges ofthe cornerpieces. These ribs'may notbenecessary on the flanges toward the sides. The corner at the rightside of Fig. 4 shows a rib on each flange and the corner at the leftshows no ribs on the flanges. The purpose for which the frames must bemade will be the guide in making the frame.

Another means of adding strength consists in lugs or ribs cast integralwith the bottom flanges. At the outer ends of these lugs are cast forkedor pron ged brads integral with'the lugs and the bottom flanges. Figs. 1and 2 show the lugs h and brads j. Fig. 3 shows two of the bradsclenched and one not clenched. Fig. 3 also shows one of the lugs h, thebrad being cut away. (See the broken space in the section of the bottompiece of the trunk.) The brads hold the bottoms of trunks or otherarticles and the lugs hold the 'side'and end pieces. Other brads K K maybe provided to hold the bottom down. a

In order to hold the end and side pieces down, brads m andn are castintegralwith the top of the upright corner-pieces and the bands 0 and cand the uprights e and 6, respectively. Fig. 3 shows how these brads arebent over the edges of a side piece of a trunk or other article andclenched. Before putting in'the side and end pieces grooves have to becut in the bottoms of these pieces corresponding with the lugs h.Grooves have to be made and end pieces of trunks for the brads m and nto rest in. For some purposes the frames cast in one piece might be tooheavy. In order to make frames light enough, they may be formed insections. Each section may contain one or more of the bands 0 and c, orthe frames may be formed in one piece and then cut into sections, asthrough lines y y and .2 z of Fig. 1.

For trunks, valises, and boxes it will be practical to make the framesof single pieces of metal.

It will be seen that every part of the frame, including the flanges,lugs, and pronged brads, are all so arranged that they can be cast inone mold. Frames for trunk-lids or other lids are made in exactly thesame way as the frames already described. The end pieces may be curved.

I do not limit myself to the particular forms described, as many changesin the forms may be made without departing from my invention.

There will be no necessity for nails or tacks or bolts of any kind, asthe lugs h, brads j and 7c, and brads m and n, and flanges 9 take theplace of all fastening devices. These parts are all so arranged thatthey are formed integral with the frames.

For some purposes it may be practical to use the bottom rim withsuitable cross-bands and Without any uprights at the corners orelsewhere.

The frames are preferably formed of malleable castings, such asmalleable iron. For light articles composition metal may be used, suchas malleable brass.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A frame for the bottoms of trunks and like articles consisting of endand side pieces having vertical and interior horizontal flanges comingtogether and forming angles, brads and lugs formed 011 said horizontalflanges, all of said parts being formed of one piece of metal.

2. A frame for the bottom of trunks or like articles consisting of endand side pieces having interior angles and having their exterior sidescurved, brads and lugs formed on the top of the said horizontal flanges,all of said parts being formed of one piece of metal.

A frame for trunks and like articles consisting of a bottom partextending on the four or more sides of the article and bands extendingaround the sides and bottom, said bottom part having an interior angle,and said bands having exterior ribs formed on the exterior thereof, allformed of one piece of metal.

4. A frame for trunks and like articles consisting of a single piece ofmetal having a bottom rim angular in cross-section, corner-uprights,anduprights intermediate the corners, all of said uprights having bradsintegral with the top parts, said brads being adapted to be bent andclenched over the sides, ends and corners of the trunk or other article.

5. A frame for trunks or like articles consisting of a bottom rim havingvertical and horizontal flanges, said flanges coming together andforming an interior angle, corneruprights, and bands intermediate theends of the frame, lugs formed on said horizontal flanges and integraltherewith and with said vertical flanges to hold the side pieces of thetrunk or other article in place, all of said parts being formed of onepiece of metal.

6. A frame for trunks and like articles consisting of a bottom rimhaving vertical and horizontal flanges, said flanges coming to-.

gether and forming an interior angle,corneruprights and bandsintermediate the ends of the frame, brads integral with said horizontalflanges and bands adapted to hold the bottom of the trunk or article inplace, all of said parts being formed of one piece of metal.

7. A frame for trunks and like articles consisting of a bottom rimhaving vertical and horizontal flanges, said flanges coming together andforming an interior angle,corneruprights and bands intermediate the endsof the frame, lugs formed on said horizontal flanges and integraltherewith and with said vertical flanges adapted to hold the side piecesof the trunk, and brads integral with said bands and horizontal flangesadapted to hold the bottom of the trunk in place, all of said partsbeing formed of one piece of metal.

8. A frame for trunks and like articles consisting of a bottom rim,corner-uprights and bands integral with said rim, lugs integral withsaid rim, and brads integral with said rim and uprights and bands, saidbands and lugs being adapted to hold the bottom, sides and ends of thetrunk or other article in place, all of said parts being formed of onepiece of metal.

9. A frame for trunks or like articles consisting of a bottom rim havinghorizontal and vertical flanges, said flanges forming an interior angle,and corner-uprights integral with said rim, said uprights being curvedon the exterior and having an interior angle, a flange dividing saidangle, said flange being adapted to hold the side and end pieces oftrunks or other articles in place, all of said parts being formed of onepiece of metal.

10. A frame for trunks or like articles consisting of a rim havinghorizontal and vertical flanges, said flanges forming an interior angleand corner-uprights integral with said rim, said uprights having flangesforming interior angles, ribs on the interior of said flanges adapted tolock the side and end pieces of a trunk or other article in place,flanges dividing the interior angles of said uprights, all of said partsbeing formed-of one piece of metal.

11. A frame for trunks and like articles consisting of an angularrim,corner-uprights integral with said rim, said uprights being curvedonrthe exterior and having flanges for securing the two bottom edges andan upright extending the entire length of the upright edge, said uprighthaving two flanges forming an interior angle, ribs on the interior I 5of said angles, a flange dividing said angle,

and brads integral with said upright for clenching the top edges.

EPHRAIM M. TURNER. Witnesses:

R. E. L. ROY, J. M. MOTHERSHEAD'.

